The [Grind System] evolved every time Akashi Asuka traveled to a new world, adapting by analyzing the local rules and realities. Each evolution unlocked new features, and this time was no exception.
Since the world of Kuroko no Basket contained roughly 1% sci-fi elements, the system's upgrade reflected that subtle shift. It wasn't huge, but it was enough.
Previously, the system worked like this: it set benchmarks for Akashi Asuka, and only after surpassing them could he earn between 0.1 to 0.3[Grind Points]. Now, however, things have changed.
After this evolution, Akashi could set his own targets. The stronger the target, the greater the reward upon surpassing them. And that wasn't all.
Once he accumulated enough [Grind Points] from surpassing a single target, the system would allow him to randomly extract a skill from that target.
Put simply, the more competitive the environment, the more sci-fi this system began to feel.
Over the past month, Akashi had already used the new system to rack up a solid amount of points.
He'd even gained a new skill: [Positioning – Unmoving Mountain], a technique adapted from a famous NBA center in this world, one with a profile uncannily similar to the legendary Shaquille O'Neal.
Only… this world's version of "Shaq" was far more outrageous.
So Akashi dubbed him "Sci-Fi Shaq."
Upon discovering the new system mechanics, Akashi had immediately locked onto pro-level players as his targets.
After all, if stronger targets yielded more points, then who could be stronger than NBA athletes in this world?
Better still, while professionals were undeniably powerful, their training volumes weren't always overwhelming. They focused more on efficient, scientifically optimized routines.
Take Sci-Fi Shaq, for instance. Though still dominant on the court, he was past his prime. His weight and age made high-volume training difficult. Akashi had found Sci-Fi Shaq's routine online and followed it to the letter.
The result?
In just one month, Akashi was consistently earning 0.5 points or more per day.
In a way, he was exploiting a bug in the system.
Yet even with that influx of points, Akashi's progress as a center still couldn't compare to how quickly he was improving as a shooting guard.
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Host: Akashi Asuka
Height: 200.5 cm
Weight: 91.6 kg
[Finishing]
Driving Layup: 67
Driving Dunk: 73
Under the Basket Finishing: 66
[Shooting]
Close Range: 70
Mid-Range: 68
Three-Point: 76
[Playmaking]
Passing: 70
Dribbling: 71
[Defense]
Lateral Quickness: 71
Steals: 60
Blocks: 84
Rebounding: 76
[Physicals]
Speed: 71
Strength: 85
Jumping: 71
Stamina: 70
[Reaction]
Reflexes: 78
Agility: 76
[Innate Talents]
Brutality (Manifesting…)
Clear Mind (Manifesting…)
[Skills]
Fadeaway Jumper: 73
Positioning – Unmoving Mountain: 80
[Grind Points]: 0
============
Compared to a month ago, Akashi's most noticeable change wasn't in any of his basketball stats, but in his height and weight.
Like all members of the Generation of Miracles, Akashi had entered a rapid growth phase.
During this stage, even if those monsters did nothing, their stats would skyrocket just from natural development.
Akashi didn't have that kind of innate talent.
So to keep up, he went all-in on bulking up, with zero hesitation.
Thanks to the system's built-in injury protection mechanism, he didn't have to worry about harming himself or disrupting his growth.
In just a month, he'd grown 3 cm taller and put on 8 kg (16 lbs).
Most of it was lean mass, so even his appearance had become visibly more powerful.
Naturally, his physical growth pushed some of his core attributes higher, like Stamina and Vertical.
But stats like Blocks and Strength, which had already exceeded normal Junior High limits, required [Grind Points] to improve.
In fact, Akashi had dumped nearly all his recent points into those two stats.
That's because in this world, surpassing natural limits comes at double the cost.
Those 7-point increases had cost him 14 points in total.
Still, his most impressive progress came in two areas:
Three-Point Shooting and Fadeaway Jumpers.
These were the only stats he had built from scratch, entirely through training, without spending a single point.
As for the skill [Unmoving Mountain], it had come out of the draw already maxed at 80 points.
"Honestly," Akashi muttered to himself,
"In this world, my biggest cheat isn't even the system, it's my experience from my past life."
Then he turned his gaze upward and said dryly:
"System, you call this an upgrade? You're starting to feel kinda weak now."
The [Grind System] chose silence. It didn't want to argue.
"Anyway," Akashi went on, "with these stats, what position am I even supposed to play? A swingman? But not the usual small-forward/shooting-guard swing…"
"Center/shooting-guard swing? That's got to be a first!"
He shook his head and cleared away the strange thought.
Thinking about positions didn't matter yet.
If his overall strength wasn't enough, then no position would suit him.
For now, the only thing that mattered was catching up to those monsters in the Generation of Miracles.
Sure, with 85 strength, he'd already reached the theoretical limit for high schoolers nationwide.
But those cheat-code freaks?
Even if they sat around doing nothing for a month, their core stats would probably all break past 85.
"If I really want revenge… these numbers still aren't nearly enough," Akashi whispered.
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